Hollow sheet-metal structure.



L. L. KNOX. HOLLOW SHEET METAL STRUCTURE} APPLICATION FILED APR- ll LQLFL.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

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INVENTOR K'mnp WITNESSES L. L. KNOX, HOLLOW SHEET METAL STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED APR- 11, 19x5.

1,168,,67, Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

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HOLLOW SHEET METAL STRUCTURE. APPLlCATION EILED APR- I915.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916,

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HOLLOW SHEET. METAL STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1h m5.

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WITNESSES I fiINVE-NTOR Mg 2 g/ 6 \(w v @M. 18mg f /QMM F LUTHER L. KNOX, OF AVALON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO KNOX PBESSED &

WELDED STEEL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

HOLLOW SHEET-METAL STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 18, 1916.

Application filed April 17, 1915. Serial No. 22,077.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUTHER L. KNOX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Avalon, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hollow Sheet-Metal Structures, of which the follo-wingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing one form of structure embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are sections taken on the lines IIIT and III-III, respectively, of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but showing another form of structure. Figs. 7, 8 and-9 are also views similar, respectively, to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but showlng still another form of structure. F igs. 10, 11 and 12 are views similar, respectively, to

Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and showing a modification,-

and Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view showing a preferred method of welding the spacers.

My invention has relation to hollow sheet metal structures; and is designed to provide a structure of this character having an improved arrangement of internal spacers, and in which the spacing or stay bolts, or other objectionable spacers usually employed, are eliminated.

My invention consists in a'hollow sheet metal structure in which the sheets forming the body of the structure are spaced and braced with reference to each other by means of internal supports or Spacers welded in. position in a manner which avoids thenc- 'cessity for perforating one of the sheets,

and which prevents air pockets between the contacting surfaces.

Referring first to that form of my invention shown in Figs 1, 2 and 3, and which illustrate the invention as applied to a hollow water cooled furnace door, the numerals.

the spacers or supports 6 which are arranged at intervals. Each of these comprises a sheet 2, and are Welded therein. Preferably,

the projections 7 are beveled, as shown in Fig. 13, to give a smaller contact area, the

spaces formed by these bevels'being filled in. during the welding, as indicated at 7*. The slots or openings 9, as also shown in said figure, are preferably formed by punching the metal inwardly, as at 9*. This method. of welding avoids any possibility of air pockets being formed between the contacting surfaces. Such air pockets, in structures subjected toheat, soon cause a burning out of the parts. The spacers or supports 6 also obviate the use of the stay bolts which are commonly employed for this class of work, or other spacers, which are objectionable by reason of the fact that it is necessary to perforate both the inner and outer sheets of the structure. These perforations form weak spots. The spacers 6 form a secure bracing connection between the plates or sheets and make unnecessary'the perforation of but one of the plates or sheets of the structure. The perforations are in the form of narrow slots, which are more or less completely filled by the wedge shaped projections 8, and which can be completely filled by the welding operation. The resulting structure is a very strong and durable one.

10 designates a water supply pipe. Preferably the spacers terminate short of the edges of the structure,so as to permit the necessary free and unobstructed Water circulation. They may, however, be arranged in such a way as to form baffles or channels for the circulation. The spaces between the prometal strip which may be cut or stamped jections 7 and 8 also facilitate the water circulation.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I have shown my invention as applied to a sheet metal jacket section or unit for furnaces. The construction is substantially the same as that just described, except that the front and .rear sheets or plates 11 and 12. are shown as separated to a somewhat greater extent, and the spacers 13 are of correspondingly increased depth. In these figures the spacers are shown as welded to the inner surface of the outer plate 11 and as having projections 14 110 which enter and are weldedin slots 15 of the inner plate 12. Figs. 4 and 5 also illustrate aconvenient way of forming twyer holes in the sections. To form these holes the sheet or plate 11 is punched and the metal forced inwardly to form the hollow internal boss 16. .17 is a short tube or pipe section welded at one end, as indicated at 18,

to the edge ofsaid boss; and at its opposite end Welded inan opening 19 in the sheet or plate 12. This" construction may also be emsage through the structure.

and 21. Thelintel portion of the structurehas a series of short spacers 22 of the character before described; and'as many su plemental spacers 23 may be used in t e leg and arch portions of the structure as' may be necessary. I 24 supply pipe.

designates a, Water Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show a jacket section similar tothat shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6,

but with a modified form of spacer. In

these figures the spacers are shown as each consisting of a zigzag bar or strip 25, the

apices ofxeach bend being flattened ofl. The,

flattened apices at one sideare welded to the inner surface of. the sheet or plate 26,,while the projections at the other side engage and are welded inopenings 27 in the other sheet 4 or plate 28.

The plates or sheets formingthe body of the structure may be-united' either by weldvious that the form of the spacers maybe.

ing asshown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8 audit), or

- by'rive'ting as sh'ownin the other figures, or

any other suitable manner.

The invention is applicable to various otherforms of hollowsheet metal structures, aswell as to the. particular forms herein shown and described. It will also be obvaried. I prefer to use projections at both edges of the spacers rather than to make a continuous weld at one edge, as this is much cheaper. The use of spaced projections also makes the construction more elastic under reference'to each other. If, however, the

expansion and contraction, and this is particularly true where the projections on the two edges of the spacer are staggered with structure is to be. subjected toa high inter- 'nalpressure, I may omit the projections 8 and make a continuous weld at this edge. 7

Iclaim: I

1. .A hollow sheet metal structure having an internal spacer, comprising a metal strip secured at its-edges to opposite walls of the ings, substantially as described.

as described.

structure, the securing portion of the strip at at least one of its edges being formed by spaced edge portions substantially as described.

2. A hollow sheet metal structure, comprising inner and outer plates, one of said plates having a series of slots or openings therein, and an internal spacer having separated projections engaging and welded in said slots or openings, the spacer being also secured: to the other plate, substantially as described.

, 3. A hollow sheet metal structure, comprising inner and outer plates, one of-said plates -having a series of slots or openings therein, and an internal spacer having spaced projections extending in the edgewise plane of the strip and engaging and welded in said slots or openings, the spacer being also secured to the inner surface of the. other plate, substantially as described.

' openings in one wall of the structure, and

a plurality of other spaced projections welded to the opposite wall of the structure, I

substantially as described.

A hollow sheet metal structure, having an internal spacer comprising'a bar or strip formed with spaced projections at opposite edges thereof, said projections being welded to opposite walls of the structure, substantially as described.

6. A hollow sheet metal structure, having alined openings formed in opposite sides thereof, one of said openings having an inturned edge, and a hollow tube or thimble at the other end in the other of said open- 7. A hollow sheet metal structure having an internalspacer, comprising a metal strip having spaced projections at its opposite edges, the projections at one edge being in alternating relation to those at the opposite edge, and said projections being welded to oppositewalls of the structure, substantially 8. A hollow sheet metal structure, having an internal spacing or bracing strip welded at one edge portion to one Wall of the structure, and having its other edge portion secured at intervals in slots in the opposite wall of the structure, substantially as described. I

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. LUTHERL. KNOX.

Witnesses:

Gnoncn B. BLEMING, W. C. LYON.

.welded at one end to said inturned edge and 

